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Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Celebrates 147th Annual Camp Meeting Week
Week-long Programs and Services on "God's Square Mile at the Jersey Shore"

Sunday, July 31 – Sunday, August 7, 2016

"I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways." Psalm 119:15 (NLT)


Contact: David Lotz, 609-203-2342, lotzflash@gmail.com

OCEAN GROVE, N.J., July 6, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- The OCEAN GROVE CAMP MEETING ASSOCIATION (OGCMA) is a Christian ministry committed to providing opportunities for spiritual birth, growth, renewal and recreation in a seaside setting that helps pastors and their churches achieve their mission in the world. During this, OGCMA's 147th season, a cherished and anticipated tradition of every summer – the Annual Camp Meeting Week – begins Sunday, July 31st and continues through Sunday, August 7th. This event offers sun-up to sun-down religious opportunities. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is located in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Camp Meeting Week activities are open to the public and are handicapped-accessible. For more information, call 732-775-0035 or visit www.oceangrove.org.

When OGCMA was founded in 1869, the Camp Meeting Movement (camp grounds to which Christians came from miles around to hear a series of traveling ministers) was in full swing from coast to coast – especially in rural areas and around small towns that weren't gifted with a formal church, resident minister, and the support of a spiritual community. In 1870, the New Jersey State Legislature granted OGCMA a charter setting Ocean Grove aside as a place of perpetual worship to Jesus Christ. Ocean Grove has blossomed since its humble beginnings and is now the longest-active site of its kind in the U.S. OGCMA's summer season of religious, cultural, educational and entertainment events – including Sunday worship services in The Great Auditorium - are open to Christians of all denominations.

"147 years ago, Ocean Grove was founded by visionary spiritual leaders. Today we stand on that same shore to celebrate that wonderful heritage and commit ourselves to continuing their vision," says OGCMA President Dr. Dale C. Whilden.

Opportunities for worship abound during Camp Meeting Week. Bible Hour is held at 9:00 a.m. daily at The Tabernacle, with periodic services throughout the week at the Beach Pavilion, Thornley Chapel, Youth Temple, and The Great Auditorium. For a complete schedule, visit www.oceangrove.org.

Highlights of Camp Meeting Week include:

Sunday, July 31 – Founders Day
Dr. Tom Tewell, will preach at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Great Auditorium.

Monday, August 1 – Wednesday, August 3
Dr. Tewell will lead a daily Bible Hour service at 9:00 a.m. in the Bishop Janes Tabernacle.

Monday, August 1 – Tuesday, August 2
Dr. Tewell preaches at special Camp Meeting evening services at 7:00 p.m. in the Boardwalk Pavilion.

Wednesday August 3 – Free Summer Band Concert
The Ocean Grove Summer Band will perform "Hymns of Faith," a free concert in The Great Auditorium at 8:00 p.m.

Thursday August 4 – Saturday, August 6
Rev. David Cotton will lead the daily Bible Hour at 9:00 a.m. in the Bishop Janes Tabernacle.

Thursday, August 4 – "Grand Orchestra and the Great Organ"
Concluding Ocean Grove's "Summer Stars" classical music series, Dr. Jason Tramm will conduct the Mid-Atlantic Opera Orchestra, joined by resident organist Gordon Turk, performing Jongen's Symphonie Concertante, in addition to famous operatic arias sung by Margaret Mezzacappa, at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 7 – Communion Worship, Close of Camp Meeting
Dr. R.T. Kendall will preach at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. with a celebration of "Great Hymn Singing."

For a complete schedule of Camp Meeting Week activities, visit www.oceangrove.org.

About Camp Week's Participating Faith Leaders

REV. DR. TOM TEWELL
Dr. Tewell, an ordained pastor for 40 years, has served congregations in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, New Providence, New Jersey, the 5,100-member Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas, and the 3,500-member Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Rev Tewell is the recipient of numerous awards for his preaching and social ministry, and is the founder and executive director of Macedonian Ministry in Atlanta, Georgia, a position he has held since 2008.

DR. R.T. KENDALL
Dr. Kendall is currently the president of R.T. Kendall Ministries based in Hendersonville, Tennessee, but Dr. Kendall is frequently on the road worldwide preaching the Gospel. He received his doctorate from Oxford University (London). Shortly after completing his studies there, he became the minister at Westminster Chapel, succeeding well-known ministers Martyn Lloyd Jones and G. Campbell Morgan. He faithfully served at Westminster for 25 years. In 2002, he was introduced by the Archbishop of Canterbury's Envoy to the Middle East to meet the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Subsequently, the men met five more times and Dr. Kendall had the opportunity to present the Gospel to the Palestinian leader. Dr. Kendall is the author of over 60 books.

REV. DAVID COTTON
David Cotton serves at First Presbyterian Church in Manasquan, New Jersey as pastoral assistant and teaches an in-depth Bible Study on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings at the church, and also hosts an adult class that deals with the impact of faith on daily life. Rev. Cotton also assists in worship and provides other pastoral support in the broader church. In his "other ministry," he is Director of the Pastoral Care Department at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and chairman of their Bioethics Consult Committee. He also serves on county and state ethics committees. He is an associate trustee of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.